News Archive

Building Your Own Home Is Easier Than You May Think

Today we begin a series of articles written by Peter Body of Thermohaus Ltd , a Caithness based timber frame kit home company.   Why Self-Build? For decades the British have bought new homes as standard speculatively built products from national and regional house builders.  

Rural solicitor heads home for Caithness Show

Elisa Miller, a Caithness-born solicitor is set to return to her home county next weekend to offer legal advice and guidance to visitors at the 2019 Caithness Show in Wick.   Elisa Miller, who was born and raised on a farm in Caithness, works in the Inverness branch of law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM), and will be on-hand over the weekend to advise show-goers on agricultural and rural legal affairs.  

Public advised to avoid eating Shellfish from Loch Glencoul, Kylesku area

Highland Council's Environmental Health team have identified raised levels of naturally occurring algal toxins following routine monitoring in coastal waters at Loch Glencoul, Kylesku area.   Eating shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from these areas may pose a health risk arising from the consumption of these algal toxins.  

Meygen Project Stuck In The Planning Process

At present, electricity generated from the four existing sub-sea tidal stream turbines at its MeyGen site, in the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound between 1 mile and 1.5 miles off Gills Harbour, is not fed directly into the UK National Grid network.   It is sent instead by a specially-built underground cable from the MeyGen onshore site at Ness o' Quoys, Canisbay, to the small electricity sub-station at Hastigrow, Bower, from where it is distributed to local households, farms and other NE Caithness business users via SSE's 'Local Distribution Network'This has a limited capacity..  

New Buyer Interest Rises In Scotland For First Time Since January 2019

A more stable trend is now emerging in the Scottish housing market, according to the latest results for the Royal Instituteof chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Residential Market Survey.   Although anecdotal commentary from respondents remains mixed, contributors reported a rise in buyer demand whilst newly agreed sales also gained a little momentum.  

Strengthening Fire Safety And Building Standards

Improvements in fire safety and better facilities for people with disabilities.   Fire safety is to be strengthened in new high rise buildings and facilities for people with disabilities improved in larger new buildings.  

Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: Domestic Buildings

Updated version of the technical handbook (domestic) which applies from 1 October 2019.   This version of the technical handbook (domestic) applies to a building warrant submitted on or after 1 October 2019 and to building work which does not require a warrant commenced from that date.  

Scottish Government Publishes Draft Vision For Housing To 2040

The Scottish Government has set out its vision for housing in Scotland leading up to 2040.   The draft vision sets out how housing system should look and feel in 2040.  

£65 Million Investment In Moray Economy

The Moray Growth Deal will see £65 million invested in creating high-value jobs, strengthening local communities and safeguarding the future of the local economy.   The Scottish Government will invest up to £32.5 million in Moray over 10 to 15 years to drive inclusive economic growth across the region, with the UK Government matching the funding over a 15 year period.  

OGA Launches 32nd Offshore Licensing Round With Groundbreaking Supporting Datasets

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has launched the 32nd Offshore Licensing Round with 768 blocks or part-blocks on offer across the main producing areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).  Acreage is on offer in the Central North Sea, Northern North Sea, Southern North Sea and the West of Shetlands.